Habitat
During the breeding season in dense undergrowth and Arundinaria ("ringal") bamboo in broad-leaved evergreen forest. During winter (non-breeding season), dense reeds, thick secondary scrub, forest undergrowth and well-vegetated gulleys. From 1,800 - 3,000 m in breeding season and 450 - 2,950 m in non-breeding season.
Eastern Himalayas in West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, and adjacent extreme northern Myanmar and southern China (north-western Yunnan).
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 10,000 - 19,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status NT
Forest loss and degradation due to logging, smaller-scale cutting for fuelwood, clearance for tea plantations, shifting agriculture and livestock-grazing of forest understorey are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
Song is high-speed, slurred warble which ends abruptly and is introduced by spaced 'tu-tiu' or 'wi-tu'.
Rusty-bellied Shortwing (Brachypteryx hyperythra) [XC39237]
by Brian Cox from Lava, Darjeeling, West Bengal, India (song)
Rusty-bellied Shortwing (Brachypteryx hyperythra) [XC453297]
by Paul Holt from Chukha, Bhutan (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Female Lesser Shortwing (Brachypteryx leucophris) which is paler above and lacks pale rufous-orange on underparts.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet